Fabric cleaning stick and brush combination



M y 1953 w. F. HAMILTON 2,537,368

FABRIC CLEANING STICK AND BRUSH COMBINATION Filed Sept. 11, 1945 IN VEN To? VV/LL/HM EHQM/LTON Haze/s; mm; F5875? achhPQ s F02 7745 HEM Patented May 12, 1953 FABRIC CLEANING STICK AND BRUSH COMBINATION William F. Hamilton, Altadena, Calif., assignmto Frederick M. Turnbull, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application September 11, 1945, Serial No. 615,576

2 Claims. (Cl. l5130.1)

This invention relates to a cleaning device for the removal of spots and stains from clothing, fabrics, articles formed. of fibrous material, shoes, gloves, leather, and the like.

Among the objects of the invention is the provision of a cleaning device in form convenient for carrying in the purse or pocket of the user.

More specifically, it is the purpose of the invention to provide a cleaning device of such character which includes a cleaning stick which is abraded when rubbed in pressural contact with fabrics or the like and which resists fracture from the manual forces applied thereto for-accomplishing such pressural contact.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a cleaning device as hereinbefore described which includes a stick of cleaning material and means for covering and protecting it, when carried in the purse or pocket of the user, from the other contents of such purse or pocket, together with means for quickly and easily extending the stick of cleaning material for use and retracting, covering, and protecting it after use.

After a cleaning material in stick form is rubbed upon fabric or the like, it is desirable that it be removed as by brushing therefrom, at least to the extent that the amount remaining is inconspicuous. A purpose of this invention is to provide a cleaning device which includes such a stick of cleaning material and also a removing member which may be quickly and easily moved to and from operative position and which is concealed and protected within the device when not in use. More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide such a cleaning device which includes actuating means adapted for moving both the stick of cleaning material and the removing member to their extended or operative positions and for returning the removing member to its inoperative and concealed position within the device.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a cleaning device of the character described which is inexpensive in manufacture, easy of assembly, and attractive in appearance, and which never leaves a ring.

An embodiment of the invention capable of accomplishing the foregoing objects and possessing the advantages and attributes hereinbefore set forth is described in the following specification, which may be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the stick of cleaning material comprising a part of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the cleaning stick installed in a complete cleaning device;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view partially broken away illustrating the cleaning device of Fig. 2 with one of the protecting caps removed and the cleaning stick in its operative position;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view partially broken away illustrating the device of Fig. 2 with the other protecting cap removed and the cleaningagent removing member extending to operative position;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view partially sectioned of an alternative embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of still another embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawing, which is for illustrative purposes only, the numeral H indicates generally a cleaning stick comprising part of the cleaning device of the invention. The cleaning stick i I includes a body I2, preferably cylindrical in form, and a coating [3 covering the side wall but not both of the ends of the body I2.

The body I2 is formed of a mixture of a cementing agent and a cleaning agent. The cementing agent may be any desired agent which does not detract from the spot and stain removing capacity of the cleaning agent and which provides sufficient resistance to fracture of the stick I l to permit of the body I2 being rubbed upon the fab ric to be cleaned, while rendering the body I2 sufficiently abradable that particles of the body I2 are separated from the cleaning stick II and rubbed upon and into the fabric to be cleaned without physical damage to the fabric.

I have found that aluminum oxide is eminently satisfactory as a cementing agent.

The cleaning agent is an adsorbent material, as, for example, diatomaceous earth, having the property of adsorbing and tenaciously holding particles of oily and color bodies. Diatomaceous earth is very satisfactory for this purpose because of the high degree of porosity of each particle of such earth and the large adsorptive area, and hence high adsorptive capacity, provided to each particle by such porosity.

The cleaning agent is utilized in particles sufficiently small that, when the body I2 is abraded by being rubbed upon a fabric, the particles do not cut or otherwise damage the fabric. Particles of diatomaceous earth having a maximum dimension of about 0.008 inch or less are preferred. The particle size of the cementing agent is controlled by the particle size of the cleaning agent; for example, the particle size of the aluminum oxide should not be greater than the particle size of the diatomaceous earth in order to utilize to the greatest extent the cementing property of the aluminum oxide, and the particles of aluminum oxide should be greater in size than the pores of the particles of diatomaceous earth in order to utilize to the maximum extent the adsorptive property of the diatom-- aceous earth. With diatomaceous earth in the form of particles having a maximum dimension of about 0.008 inch or less, particles of aluminum oxide of sizes from the dimensions of the pores of the particles of diatomaceous earth up to a maximum dimension of about 0.902 inch or less are suitable.

The proportions of the cementing agent and the cleaning agent may vary, depending upon the resistance to fracture of the cleaning stick H which is desired. As the proportion of cementing agent within the body I2 is increased, the resistance to fracture of the cleaning stick ii is increased, but at the expense of the adsorb ingor grease and stain removing capacity of the cleaning stick ii. Aluminum oxide and diatomacsous earth in the proportions of about 40 and 60 respectively, by dry weight, have proved very satisfactory when incorporated in the cleaning stick ll and used in the cleaning device more specifically described hereinafter.

In order to provide additional resistance to fracture of the cleaning stick H and to prevent the cementing agent and cleaning agent from soiling the hands of the user and to preserve the adsorptive properties of the cleaning agent, the coating 13 is applied to the body it. Many of the resins which may be applied in a liquid state without a plasticizer are suited for this purpose, such as polyvinyl butyral in a suitable solvent. A satisfactory solvent for the polyvinyl butyral is a mixture of isopropyl alcohol and methyl ethyl ketone or acetone in the proportions of about 69 cc. of the isopropyl alcohol and about 40 cc. of the methyl ethyl 'ketone or acetone for about 5 grams of the polyvinyl butyral.

In order to protect further the cleaning stick Ii from fracture during use and to protect it from abrasion and contamination when not in use, the cleaning stick ii in accordance with the invention is disposed within an applicator 1.5 which includes a cylindrical housing b3 and protecting caps Il and iii.

As is well illustrated in 3, and 4, the housing it is cylindrical in form, of an internal diameter permitting the easy sliding therein of the cleaning stick II, and is open at both ends. Formed in the housing i6 is a longitudinal slot ill which extends from one end of the housing is to a circumffiential slot 2!] having an offset portion 2! adjacent the other end of the housing IS. The circumferential slot '23 extends around only a few degrees, e. g., of the periphery of the housing 16. The slots l3 and 2E and offset portion 2! are adapted for the reception of a radial projection. 22 formed upon an actuating means 23 in the form of a cylindrical plug slidable within the housing 85.

The numeral 26 indicates a removing member for brushing from the fabric particles of the body 52 abraded upon the fabric by rubbing the cleaning stick ll thereon. This removing member 2 may be of any suitable form and material for accomplishing the separation of the abraded portions of the body It from the fabric, such, for example, as a porous rubber member or the like. However, it is preferred that the removing mem ber 26 be in the form of a brush of relatively all) short bristles, as illustrated in the drawing. While the removing member 26 may be mounted upon a base separate from the actuating means 23 and moved to its extended or operative position by contact of the actuating means 23 with such base, it is preferred to mount t. e brush 25 directly upon the actuating means 23.

Each of the protecting caps ii and i3 is cylindrical in form and adapted to be removably retained upon the housing [8 by frictional engage-- ment therewith.

With the protecting caps I1 and it] removed, the actuating means 23 is readily inserted within the housing Is by sliding the radial projection 22 into the slot 19. Thereafter, the cleaning stick H may be slid into the housing it, the continuous plastic coating [3 contributing to the facility with which the cleaning stick i i may be moved within the housing it. When both of the protecting caps l1 and it are positioned upon the housing [6, the cleaning stick H and the brush 25 are enclosed.

When it is desired ,to use the cleaning stick ll, it is necessary only to remove the protecting cap 5! and to eject the end of the cleaning stick it beyond the housing 16 by forcing the actuating means 23 toward the open end of the housing [6 by manual pressure exerted upon the radial projection 22. As the end of the cleaning stick H is rubbed upon the fabric, the mixture of cleaning agent, cementing agent, and coloring agent is abraded from the end of the cleaning stick ii, and particles of these agents are pressed upon and into the fabric. The particles of the cleaning agent adsorb the oily and coloring bodies constituting the grease spot or stain upon the fabric. In order to create sufficient friction between the coating l3 and the inner surface of the housing It to prevent the cleaning stick H from sliding out of the housing it under the influence of gravity, there may be applied to the coating 13 fibers M, such as lint. These may with advantage be applied while the coating !3 is still wet by blowing the fibers it upon the wet coating [3 or rolling the stick ii in the fibers l-l.

During the abrasion of the end of the body 12 of the cleaning stick Ii, the edge of the coating I 3 is also abraded, the portions of the coating at such edge breaking away in small particles or flakes without damage to the fabric. After a sufiicient quantity of the cleaning stick it has been rubbed upon the fabric, the cleaning stick I I is returned to its inoperative and protected position within the housing it by placing the protecting cap IT over the exposed end of the cleaning stick II and sliding it back into the housing I5.

Thereafter, the protecting cap I3 is removed from the housing I6, and the brush 25 moved to its extended or operative position, as illustrated in Fig. 4, by manual pressure exerted upon the radial projection 22. The brush 25 rubbed over the fabric serves to remove not only the particles of the cleaning stick H on the surface of the fabric, but that which has become embedded within the fibers thereof. The brush 25, after its use, is returned to its inoperative and protected position within the housing It by manual force applied to the radial projection 22, and the protecting cap {8 is then replaced upon the housing IS in the position illustrated in Fig. 2. It will be noted that, when the brush 25 is in use, the radial projection 22 is disposed in the offset portion 2:? of the slot 19 to keep pressure against the brush by the article being cleaned from forcing the brush into the housing.

Illustrated in Fig. 5 is an alternative embodiment of the invention, in which elements corresponding to those previously described are indicated by like numbers. In this embodiment the housing I6 is eliminated, and a cap 26 similar to the cap I7 is removably positioned upon the end of the cleaning stick II and retained thereon by friction. A protecting cap 21 having a thickened end is removably positioned upon the other end of the stick I I and retained thereon by frictional engagement with the periphery of the stick I I. The cap 21 is provided with an inward- 1y extending pin 28, which is driven intothe end of the cleaning stick I I to aid in retaining the. cap 27 upon the cleaning stick I I and to prevent its rotation relative thereto. Mounted in and projecting outwardly from the end of the cap 21 is a brush 29. The cap 2! may be formed of metal, plastic, or any suitable material.

In Fig. 6 is illustrated another embodiment of the invention, in which the cleaning stick, indicated by the numeral 38, is given a shape adapting it to fit the hand of the user. As illustrated, the cleaning stick 3D is of greatest diameter at its middle, and its diameter is gradually reduced toward its ends. The cleaning stick 3!] has a coating 3i similar to the coating I3 previously described and has mounted in or secured to one end thereof a brush 32 similar to and for the same purpose as the brush 25 previously described.

While the forms of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 are preferably made of such dimensions as to be readily carried in a lady's purse, the form illustrated in Fig. 6 may with advantage be made substantially larger to provide an article of longer life.

While those embodiments of the invention hereinbefore illustrated and described are capable of performing the objects and accomplishing the advantages primarily stated, it will be understood that the invention is not restricted to the specific embodiments hereinbefore set forth, but includes all modifications coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a cleaning device, the combination of: a cylindrical housing having therein a slot with an offset portion adjacent one end of said housing, said slot extending to the other end of said housing; a cylindrical cleaning stick dimensioned for sliding movement in said housing between extended position projecting beyond one open end of said housing and retracted position entirely contained within said housing; an actuating body slidably disposed within said housing and having a portion thereof extending through said slot in said housing; and a brush mounted upon said actuating body, said actuating body being movable between extended position in which said brush projects beyond the other open end of said housing and retracted position in which said brush and said actuating body are entirely received within said housing, said actuating body being adapted for contact with said cleaning stick to move .it from its retracted to its extended position, and said offset portion of said slot receiving said projecting portion of said actuating body to lock said brush in its extended position.

2. In a cleaning device, the combination of a cylindrical housing having therein a slot with an offset portion adjacent one end of said holising, said slot extending to the other end of said housing; a cylindrical cleaning stick dimensioned for sliding movement in said housing between extended position projecting beyond one open end of said housing and retracted position entirely contained within said housing; an actuating body slidably disposed within said housing and having a portion thereof extending through said slot in said housing; a. brush mounted upon said actuating body, said actuating body being movable between extended position in which said brush projects beyond the other open end of said housing and retracted position in which said brush and said actuating body are entirely received within said housing, said actuating body being adapted for contact with said cleaning stick to move itfro-m its retracted to its extended position, and said offset portion of said slot receiving said projecting portion of said actuating body to retain said brush in its extended position; and a plurality of fibers embedded in a coating on said stick and by frictional engagement with the inner surface of said housing resisting the movement of said cleaning stick from said housing by gravity.

WILLIAM F. HAMILTON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,565,670 Philp Dec. 15, 1925 1,878,250 Primeau Sept. 20, 1932 2,007,245 Gimonet July 9, 1935' 2,165,150 Parker et a1 July 4, 1939 2,177,651 Harris Oct. 31, 1939,- 2,133,544 Scott Jan. 30, 1940 2,201,467 Bloom May 21, 1940: 2,234,558 Huston Mar. 11, 1941" 2,354,260 Haney et al July 25, 1944;" 2,381,774 Reifenstahl Aug. 7, 1945' FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 6,251 Australia of 1932 274,330 Great Britain July 21, 1947 522,097 Great Britain June 10, 1940 557,318 Great Britain Nov. 16, 1943 590,264 Great Britain July 11, 1947 

